Secure and concealed pocket system

ABSTRACT

A pocket system for a garment including a passageway extending across the garment, the passageway being defined by a first surface and a second surface, an inlet defining an opening through the first surface for providing access to the passageway, and at least one pocket extending from the passageway such that the pocket extends at an angle relative to a central axis of the passageway.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 60/559,656 filed on Apr. 5, 2004, the entire contents from which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to pocket systems and, more particularly, to a concealed pocket system for securely and discretely storing items.

Pockets are a common component of articles such as bags, purses, holsters, belts and garments (i.e., shirts, undershirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, skirts, pants, dresses and the like). Pockets are typically used to store items such as cell phones, MP-3 players, wallets, glasses, keys and the like. However, when these items are placed into a typical pocket, there is a possibility that the items may fall out of the pocket, thereby becoming lost. Furthermore, placing such items in typical pockets may negatively affect the aesthetic appeal of the article due to the stuffed and bulky appearance of a pocket filled with such items.

Accordingly, there is a need for a concealed pocket for securely store everyday items.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present invention is a pocket system for a garment including a passageway extending across the garment, the passageway being defined by at least a first surface and a second surface, an inlet defining an opening through the first surface for providing access to the passageway, and at least one pocket extending from the passageway such that the pocket extends at an angle relative to a central axis of the passageway.

A second aspect of the present invention is a pocket system for a garment including a passageway extending generally horizontally across the garment and including a first end and a second end, wherein the passageway is defined by at least a first surface, an inlet defining an opening through the first surface for providing access to the passageway, the inlet being positioned generally centrally relative to the first end and the second end, a first pocket extending from the first end, and a second pocket extending from the second end, wherein the first and second pockets extends at an angle relative to the passageway.

A third aspect of the present invention is a pocket system for an article including a passageway extending across the article, the passageway is defined by at least a first surface and a second surface, an inlet defining an opening through the first surface for providing access to the passageway, and at least one pocket extending from the passageway such that the pocket extends at an angle relative to a central axis of the passageway

Other embodiments, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a garment according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of garment according to a second aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a garment according to a third aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a front elevational view of the garment of FIG. 4 storing an electronic device and including a wire anchor;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the wire anchor of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a garment according to a fourth aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a closure mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the closure mechanism of FIG. 7 in the open position;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the garment of FIG. 4 storing two electronic devices;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the garment of FIG. 4 storing one electronic device;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a collar portion of the garment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the garment of FIG. 4 having an electronic device exiting and entering the garment;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of a garment according to a fifth aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the garment of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a garment according to a sixth aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the pocket system of the present invention, generally designated 10, may be embodied on a garment 12 such as a T-shirt. However, the pocket system 10 may be used with various other types of garments 12 such as undershirts, dress shirts, blouses, coats, sweaters, pants, dresses, skirts, harnesses (see FIGS. 3 and 15) and the like, as well as various other types of articles such as bags, purses, holsters, belts, chairs, sofas, hats, computer cases, briefcases and the like.

In one aspect of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the pocket system 10 includes an inlet 14, a passageway 16, two forward pockets 18 and two side pockets 20. In a second aspect of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the pocket system 10 includes an inlet 14, a passageway 16 and two distal pockets 32. Of course, one skilled in the art would recognize that any number of pockets could be employed with the present system 10 and the present invention is not limited to any number of pockets. From a practical standpoint, the number of pockets will typically be from about 1 to about 10, more particularly 2 to 4.

The inlet 14 is an opening through a surface of the garment 12 for providing access to the passageway 16. According to one aspect, the inlet 14 is sized such that a user wearing the garment 12 may insert a hand into the inlet 14 to access the passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32. According to a second aspect, the inlet is sized such that a user may feel an item in one of the pockets 18, 20, 32 and manipulate the item, thereby causing the item to move towards the inlet 14 without the need for inserting a hand into the passageway 16.

The inlet 14 may be vertically oriented (see FIG. 1) and positioned in the center of the garment 12, between the pectoral or breast region 22 and the abdominal region 24 of the garment 12. Alternatively, the inlet 14 may be aligned horizontally or in any other orientation and may be positioned in various locations on the garment 12 such that the inlet 14 provides access to the passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 8, the passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32 may be constructed from a first surface 42 and a second surface 44 shaped to form a passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32. The first surface 42 may be a portion of the garment and the second surface 44 may be a piece of material cut and/or shaped to be attached to the first surface 42.

The passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32 may be formed from a material such as cloth, spandex, wool, cotton, polyester or any other like material, which may be cut or shaped to create the passageway 16 and the pockets 18, 20. In one aspect, the passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32 may be formed from anti-radiation material such that energy/radiation that emanates from electronic devices (e.g., cell phones) does not harm the user. In a second aspect, the passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32 may be formed from a waterproof material (e.g., nylon with Goretex or Nextex treatment) to prevent or reduce moisture and/or condensation in the pockets 18, 20, 32. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, due to the typically rigid nature of waterproof material, an elastic material 34 may be positioned between the garment 12 and the passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32 to allow for stretching. The elastic material 34 should have elastic properties similar to the garment material, if not better, thereby allowing the garment 12 to stretch and expand around the pocket system 10 without causing the stitching to break away from the passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32.

In one aspect of the present invention, the pockets 18, 20, 32 are formed from an elastic material such that, when items are placed into the pockets 18, 20, they are closely grasped and received by the elastic material. The material (i.e., second surface 44) may be aligned with the inlet 14 and attached to surface 42 (see dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 4) by stitches, adhesives such as glue, staples, rivets or any other like attachment method.

The passageway 16 extends across the garment 12 to provide access to the pockets 18, 20, 32. In one aspect of the present invention, shown in FIG. 1, a central axis A of the passageway 16 extends generally parallel with the horizontal axis B of the garment 12. In a second aspect of the present invention, shown in FIG. 6, the central axis A of the passageway 16 is oriented at various angles relative to the horizontal axis B of the garment 12 to simplify the insertion and extraction of items to and from the pockets 18, 20, 32 and to conform to various body types (e.g., FIG. 6 illustrates a V-shaped passageway 16 that conforms to the female anatomy).

The pockets 18, 20, 32 may be positioned on a front portion 26 of the garment 12 and may extend generally perpendicularly from the passageway 16, towards the abdominal region 24 of the garment 12. Alternatively, the pockets 18, 20, 32 may extend at an angle of about 45 to about 90 degrees relative to the passageway 16.

As shown in FIG. 12, the pockets 32 may include a curved or radius edge 34. The curved edge 34 allows items 35 placed into the passageway 16 to quickly and easily fall into a pocket 32 via the assistance of gravity. In another aspect, the inlet 14 may be oversized (i.e., larger than the passageway 16 and may include a downward sloping portion 36. The downward sloping portion 36 allows an item 35 manipulated from a pocket 32 to easily exit the inlet 14 and fall into a user's hand with the assistance of gravity.

Each pocket 18, 20, 32 may be sized to closely receive items 35 such as cell phones, MP-3 players, wallets, glasses, keys and the like, such that once these items are placed into the pockets 18, 20, 32, they are secured into a specific pocket and do not shift to other pockets 18, 20, 32. Each pocket 18, 20, 32 may have a unique shape, corresponding to a specific item, or alternatively, two or more of the pockets 18, 20, 32 may be uniform in size and shape. The pockets 18, 20, 32 may be designed and shaped to closely receive specific items, thereby concealing them such that they are not readily visible through the surface of the garment 12. Furthermore, the pockets 18, 20, 32 are positioned in a manner such that should a user wearing the garment 12 bend over, the items in the pockets 18, 20, 32 may shift into the passageway 16, but then as the user stands upright, the items may fall back into their respective pockets 18, 20, 32. However, should an item placed into a specific pocket 18, 20, 32 accidentally be moved from the desired pocket 18, 20, 32 to another pocket 18, 20, 32, the user may feel the item through the garment 12 and shift it back into the desired pocket 18, 20, 32.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the passageway 16 may include various imbedded pockets 38, 40. The imbedded pockets 38, 40 may be vertically aligned (see FIG. 8) or horizontally aligned (see FIG. 7) and may be attached to the inner surface 44 or outer surface 42 of the passageway 16. The imbedded pockets 38, 40 may be sized and shaped to closely receive various items such a credit cards, keys and the like.

The inlet 14 may remain open at all times. Alternatively, closure mechanisms such as hook and loop fasteners, buttons, zippers, magnets or other like closing mechanisms may be utilized to close the inlet 14 when not in use, while allowing the user to easily open the inlet 14 when desired. The closing mechanism may prevent items that have shifted out of the pockets 18, 20, 32, due to erratic movement of the user, from accidentally exiting the inlet 14 and falling out of the pocket system 10.

An alternative embodiment 50 of the pocket system 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 15 and includes a belt 52 having shoulder straps or suspender 54, an inlet 56, a passageway 58 and pockets 60. Pockets 60 may include a curved or radius edge 34 (see FIG. 15). The pocket system 10 may also be embodied in various other articles, such as bags, purses, holsters, hats and the like, in a similar manner.

The belt 52 may be worn around a torso 62 of a user and supported by the shoulder straps 54, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 15. The inlet 56 may be a single opening through a surface of the belt 52, as discussed with respect to inlet 14, above. The passageway 58 and pockets 60 may be similar to the passageway 16 and pockets 18, 20, 32 described above, and may attach to an inside surface of the belt 52 in a similar manner.

As shown through FIGS. 4-10, the garment 12 may include an opening 70 positioned above the inlet 14 for receiving various wires. The opening 70 provides access through the garment 12 such that items may be inserted through the opening 70 and positioned between the garment 12 and the user's body. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an electronic device 35 (e.g., an MP-3 player) may be positioned in a pocket 32. A wire 37 extending from the device 35 may exit through the inlet 14 and enter the opening 70 such that only a portion of the wire 37 is visible from the exterior of the garment 12. The wire 37 may then exit the garment 12 through the collar 72 of the garment 12.

As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the collar 72 may include a number of anchor tabs 74 spaced about the collar 72 for securing the wire 37 to the collar 72. The tabs 74 may be positioned on the inside and/or outside of the collar 72. Each anchor tab 74 may include a longitudinal strip of material 75 secured to the collar 72 with stitches 76. Alternatively, each tab 74 may be detachable or partially detachable (i.e., attached with hook-and-loop fasteners).

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, wire anchors 78 may be provided on the garment 12. The anchors 78 may be attached to an inner or outer surface of the garment 12 and adapted to secure various wires 37 to the garment 12. As shown in FIG. 5B, the anchors 78 may include a strip of material having look-and-loop fastening material 79 attached thereto. Anchors 78 are not limited to the structure depicted in FIG. 58, but rather it should be understood that any structure capable of securing a wire 37 to the garment 12 may serve as an anchor 78.

Although the invention is shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims. 

1. A pocket system for a garment comprising: a passageway extending across said garment, said passageway being defined by at least a first surface and a second surface; an inlet defining an opening through said first surface for providing access to said passageway; and at least one pocket extending from said passageway such that said pocket extends at an angle relative to a central axis of said passageway.
 2. The pocket system of claim 1 wherein said garment is a T-shirt, undershirt, dress shirt, blouse, coat, sweater, pant, dress, skirt or harness.
 3. The pocket system of claim 1 wherein said passageway includes a first end and a second and a first pocket extends from said first end and a second pocket extends from said second end.
 4. The pocket system of claim 3 wherein said passageway extends generally horizontally across said garment.
 5. The pocket system of claim 4 wherein said first and second pockets extend substantially perpendicularly relative to said central axis.
 6. The pocket system of claim 1 wherein said inlet is larger than said passageway.
 7. The pocket system of claim 1 wherein said passageway and said pocket are formed from an anti-radiation material.
 8. The pocket system of claim 1 wherein said passageway and said pocket are formed from a waterproof material.
 9. The pocket system of claim 1 wherein said passageway is generally V-shaped.
 10. The pocket system of claim 1 wherein said pocket includes a curved edge.
 11. The pocket system of claim 1 wherein said pocket is sized to closely receive an electronic device.
 12. The pocket system of claim 1 further comprising at least one imbedded pocket connected to said first or second surface.
 13. The pocket system of claim 1 wherein said inlet includes a closure mechanism.
 14. The pocket system of claim 1 further comprising an opening through said garment, said opening being positioned generally above said inlet.
 15. The pocket system of claim 1 further comprising at least one anchor tab attached to said garment.
 16. The pocket system of claim 1 further comprising a wire anchor attached to said garment.
 17. A pocket system for a garment comprising: a passageway extending generally horizontally across said garment and including a first end and a second end, wherein said passageway is defined by at least a first surface; an inlet defining an opening through said first surface for providing access to said passageway, said inlet being positioned generally centrally relative to said first end and said second end; a first pocket extending from said first end; and a second pocket extending from said second end, wherein said first and second pockets extend at an angle relative to said passageway.
 18. The pocket system of claim 17 wherein said garment is a T-shirt, undershirt, dress shirt, blouse, coat, sweater, pant, dress, skirt or harness.
 19. The pocket system of claim 17 wherein said angle is about 45 to about 90 degrees.
 20. The pocket system of claim 17 wherein said inlet is larger than said passageway.
 21. The pocket system of claim 17 wherein said passageway and said pockets are formed from an anti-radiation material.
 22. The pocket system of claim 17 wherein said passageway and said pockets are formed from a waterproof material.
 23. The pocket system of claim 17 wherein each of said pockets includes a curved edge.
 24. The pocket system of claim 17 further comprising at least one imbedded pocket positioned within said passageway.
 25. A pocket system for an article comprising: a passageway extending across said article, said passageway being defined by at least a first surface and a second surface; an inlet defining an opening through said first surface for providing access to said passageway; and at least one pocket extending from said passageway such that said pocket extends at an angle relative to a central axis of said passageway.
 26. The pocket system of claim 25 wherein said article is a bag, purse, holster, belt, chair, sofa, hat, computer case or briefcase. 